How to pronounce barbican
Say it like BAR-bih-kun. Barbican has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce barbican. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAR
- bih
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Barbican pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of barbican
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAH-bih-kun.
What does barbican mean?
- A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town.
- A fortress at the end of a bridge.
- An opening in the wall of a fortress through which the guns are leveled; a narrow loophole through which arrows and other missiles may be shot.
Questions about saying barbican
How do you pronounce barbican?
Say BAR-bih-kun. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑrbɪkən/. In British English it is /ˈbɑːbɪkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in barbican?
Barbican has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAR). Broken into parts: BAR · bih · kun.
Is barbican pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɑːbɪkən/ (BAH-bih-kun).